Automatic dispensing device of orientable capsules for hot beverages

ABSTRACT

An automatic dispensing device of orientable capsules for preparing hot beverages is described, comprising at least one storage compartment adapted to accommodate the capsules in open order, the storage compartment being provided with at least one inlet for capsules and at least one plurality of apertures adapted to the oriented exit of capsules. The device comprises means for rotating the storage compartment about a rotation axis in order to facilitate the oriented exit of capsules.

The present invention relates to an automatic dispensing vending deviceof orientable capsules for hot beverages.

These beverages are prepared in place and automatically from capsulescontaining, for example, a freeze-dried version of the beverage type tobe achieved, to which hot water is added. The prepared beverages rangefrom bar products, such as coffee or tea, to broth.

On the market and in the known art, there are different types of devicesfor supplying capsules to machines for the automatic production of hotbeverages. Some require a capsule-by-capsule manual insertion into theloading drawer of the machine for preparing the beverage, others have astorage compartment where the capsules are held in open order, and aquite complicated device is then expected to move the capsules andsuitably orient them for being automatically supplied.

The complication of these mechanisms is unfavorable to a simplifiedmaintenance of the device.

Therefore, the need for a device which allows to carry out an automatedcapsule distribution with a simplified maintenance arises.

Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to achieve a devicewhich allows to carry out an automatic capsule distribution with ahighly simple structure.

In accordance with the invention, such an object is achieved by anautomatic dispensing machine device of orientable capsules for preparinghot beverages, comprising at least one storage compartment adapted toaccommodate the capsules in open order, the storage compartment beingprovided with at least one capsule inlet and at least one plurality ofapertures adapted to the oriented exit of the capsules, characterized inthat it comprises means for rotating the storage compartment about arotation axis to facilitate the oriented exit of the capsules.

These and other features of the present invention will be more apparentfrom the following detailed description of a practical embodimentthereof shown by way of non-limiting example in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a vertical section view of a first embodiment of the deviceaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an axonometric view of the device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a vertical section view of a second embodiment of thedevice according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows an axonometric view of the device in FIG. 1.

With reference to the enclosed drawings, specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2,there is shown an automatic dispensing device 1 of orientable capsules 2for preparing hot beverages, comprising at least one storage compartment3 adapted to accommodate the capsules 2 in open order. The storagecompartment 3 is provided with at least one inlet 4 for capsules 2 andat least one plurality of apertures 5 adapted to the oriented exit ofthe capsules 2, and means 5 for rotating the storage compartment 3 abouta rotation axis 7 in order to facilitate the oriented exit of thecapsules 2 are associated therewith. The storage compartment 3 has anexemplary cylindrical shape (alternatively it could also be prismatic)with a main inclined symmetry axis 8. The storage compartment 3 is movedby rotation means 6 associated therewith, e.g. an electric motor. Everyplurality of apertures 5 is symmetrically placed and preferablycircumferentially distributed about the symmetry axis 8 of the storagecompartment 3. The apertures 5 reproduce the volume shape of the capsule2 in the preferential exit direction.

The movement of the storage compartment 3 may occur by rotating the samesuch that the main symmetry axis 8 of the storage compartment 3coincides with the rotation axis 7 imposed by the motor, or such thatthere is not coincidence between the two axes.

By rotating the storage compartment 3, the capsules are moved and thosewhich are oriented as the apertures 5 exit therefrom and fall on acollecting chute 9 associated with every plurality of apertures 5.

Shutting means 10 for reversibly shutting the plurality of apertures 5,which operate when the respective collecting chute 9 is loaded, andsensors 13 for signaling the reached preset minimum amount of capsules 2in the chute 9 are advantageously provided.

The inlet 4 for supplying the capsules may be placed at the side part 1or top part 12 of the storage compartment 3.

The storage compartment 3 may advantageously be provided with more thanone plurality of outlet apertures 5, in particular with an oppositeorientation, for dispensing differently oriented capsules 2 to be usedin different machines. Every plurality of apertures 5 is associated witha respective collecting chute 9, sensors 13 for signaling the reachedminimum amount, and means 10 for shutting apertures 5.

1. An automatic dispensing device of orientable capsules for preparinghot beverages, comprising at least one storage compartment adapted toaccommodate the capsules in open order, the storage compartment beingprovided with at least one inlet for capsules and at least one pluralityof apertures adapted to the oriented exit of the capsules, characterizedin that it comprises means for rotating the storage compartment about arotation axis to facilitate the oriented exit of capsules.
 2. A deviceaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the apertures reproduce thevolume shape of capsule in the exit direction.
 3. A device according toclaim 1, characterized in that the storage compartment has a cylindricalor prismatic shape with a main symmetry axis.
 4. A device according toclaim 3, characterized in that said symmetry axis is inclined.
 5. Adevice according to claim 3, characterized in that symmetry axis androtation axis coincide.
 6. A device according to claim 3, characterizedin that symmetry axis and rotation axis do not coincide.
 7. A deviceaccording to claim 3, characterized in that every plurality of aperturesis symmetrically placed and preferably circumferentially distributedabout the symmetry axis of the storage compartment.
 8. A deviceaccording to claim 7, characterized in that it has a collecting chuteassociated with every plurality of apertures.
 9. A device according toclaim 8, characterized in that it has means for reversibly shutting theplurality of apertures, operated when the respective collecting chute isloaded.
 10. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that thestorage compartment is provided with two pluralities of outlet aperturesfor dispensing respective pluralities of capsules with the same ordifferent orientation.
 11. A device according to claim 1, characterizedin that the inlet for capsules is at the top part of the storagecompartment.
 12. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that itis provided with sensors for signaling the reached preset minimum amountof capsules.
 13. A device according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe storage compartment has a cylindrical or prismatic shape with a mainsymmetry axis.
 14. A device according to claim 4, characterized in thatsymmetry axis and rotation axis coincide.
 15. A device according toclaim 4, characterized in that symmetry axis and rotation axis do notcoincide.
 16. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that everyplurality of apertures is symmetrically placed and preferablycircumferentially distributed about the symmetry axis of the storagecompartment.
 17. A device according to claim 5, characterized in thatevery plurality of apertures is symmetrically placed and preferablycircumferentially distributed about the symmetry axis of the storagecompartment.
 18. A device according to claim 6, characterized in thatevery plurality of apertures is symmetrically placed and preferablycircumferentially distributed about the symmetry axis of the storagecompartment.
 19. A device according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe storage compartment is provided with two pluralities of outletapertures for dispensing respective pluralities of capsules with thesame or different orientation.
 20. A device according to claim 3,characterized in that the storage compartment is provided with twopluralities of outlet apertures for dispensing respective pluralities ofcapsules with the same or different orientation.